With the FIBA Basketball World Cup having grown in stature over the past few decades, it’s a major honour for a nation to host the tournament. Hosting any kind of sporting world championship can boost a country’s economy, while also providing the chance for sporting memories to be made on local shores.
The 2023 Basketball World Cup is taking place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. It’s the first time three nations have come together to play host to the event, and so far the tournament has been a roaring success, with the final matches set to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines as fans eagerly examine the FIBA World Cup betting.
As excitement continues to build for the climax of the 2023 tournament, let’s take a look back at the recent nations to have hosted the Basketball World Cup, and how events unfolded that year.
2019: China
The previous Basketball World Cup also took place in Asia, with China playing host in 2019. This was the first World Cup to feature 32 teams, providing a festival of basketball across the tournament’s eight venues.
The arenas selected to host matches were:
- Wukesong Arena, Beijing
- Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai
- Dongguan Basketball Center, Dongguan
- Guangzhou Gymnasium, Guangzhou
- Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park Gymnasium, Nanjing
- Wuhan Gymnasium, Wuhan
- Foshan International Sports & Cultural Arena, Foshan
- Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre, Shenzhen
The eventual winners of the tournament were Spain, who overcame Poland and Australia in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, before defeating Argentina in the final at Wukesong Arena in Beijing.
2014: Spain
Spain played host to the Basketball World Cup in 2014. Having won the tournament for the first time in 2006, it was a chance for Spanish basketball fans to enjoy the World Cup on home soil.
The venues selected to host matches were:
- Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid
- Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona
- Palacio Municipal de Deportes de Granada, Granada
- Bizkaia Arena, Bilbao
- Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville
- Gran Canaria Arena, Las Palmas
Sadly for Spanish fans of the sport, their team couldn’t secure a second world title. Instead, it was the USA who triumphed, overcoming Mexico, Slovenia and Lithuania to reach the final, where they defeated Serbia 129-92 to lift the trophy.
2010: Turkey
Turkey played host to the 2010 edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and it was a fantastic tournament on the whole. It was Turkey’s first time hosting the tournament and the first edition held in Europe since Greece hosted in 1998.
Five venues were selected to host matches:
- Ankara Arena, Ankara
- Halkapinar Sport Hall, Izmir
- Kadir Has Arena, Kayseri
- Abdi Ipekci Arena, Istanbul
- Sinan Erdem Dome, Istanbul
Indeed, the hosts enjoyed a cracking tournament, defeating France, Slovenia and Serbia in dramatic fashion to reach the final in Istanbul.
Standing in their way were the United States, who’d beaten Angola, Russia and Lithuania to book their place in the showpiece match.
Sadly for Turkey, it proved to be one step too far, with the USA running out 81-64 winners.
